Florida Seaport System Plan - SeaCIP

Florida Seaport System Plan
Table ES.1 Summary of Implementation Plan
FTP Goal Key Implementation Strategies FDOT Implementation Actions
Invest in
transportation
systems to
support a
prosperous,
globally
competitive
economy.
• Provide capacity and operational improvements that ensure long-term sustainability of key
markets for Florida’s seaports – this includes providing improvements that serve existing
needs without precluding the ability to develop new and expanded services in the future.
• Preserve and expand Florida’s share of trade and transportation activity with respect to
competing ports in other states and countries.
• Develop at least one first port of call with 50 feet of water; this should be accomplished to
correspond with completion of the Panama Canal expansion.
• Develop longer-term statewide deepening program that identifies regional and statewide
capacity needs; this should address market penetration, competitiveness, and funding.
• Provide on-dock or on-port rail at Florida’s major seaports; this should be coordinated with
the deepening program.
• Build partnerships for other seaports (Florida and non-Florida) to serve as feeders to
Florida’s major deep water hub seaports; this should include development of a marine
highways network (short sea shipping) to serve transshipments market.
• Expand and enhance key niche/specialized gateways along inland waterways.
• Develop international warehouse/distribution centers close to major seaports to facilitate/
support growth in international trade.
• Encourage development of high-capacity, efficient interstate rail and highway corridors to
provide improved access to hinterland markets for discretionary cargo.
• Provide a flexible funding program that ensures Florida’s seaports are responsive to
economic development opportunities.
• Tie local/regional initiatives with state programs and goals and position major regional
projects to compete for discretionary Federal funding programs.
• Develop new or enhance existing processes for freight planning at trade corridor/
mega-region and statewide level.
• Support implementation of Florida Trade and Logistics
Study strategies to promote the ability of Florida’s
seaports to compete for and serve Florida and non-
Florida markets.
• Implement Florida’s seaport system planning program
through two principal components; the Florida Seaport
Transportation and Economic Development Council
(FSTED) primarily focuses on on-port improvements
at individual seaports on a collective basis; other state
seaport investments primarily focus on capacity
improvements and intermodal and connector
improvements at a statewide system level.
• Coordinate state work program, port master plan/
capital improvement plan, and Capital Improvements
Element of the local government comprehensive plan
development activities.
• Prioritize state investments and support seaport
improvement programs that provide compatible and
long-term economic development opportunities.
• Promote flexibility in existing and new seaport-related
funding programs to help ports effectively and
competitively respond to economic development
opportunities.
• Develop and maintain statewide and regional cargo
and passenger forecasts to support state-level seaport
planning activities.
Florida Department of Transportation
December 2010
ES-11